Carton closing machine



Aug. 9, 1955 Filed May 29, 1953 Fig.

E. w. WRIGHT ET AL CARTON CLOSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 AlphonseMorris Thiery INVENTORS g- 9, 1955 E. w. WRIGHT ET AL 2,714,792

CARTON CLOSING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1953 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /a /6 v 4870 5 I Fig. 3 62 Ernest W. Wright 58 Alphonse Morris Thiery INVENTORSAug. 9, 1955 E. w. WRIGHT ET AL 2,714,792

CARTON CLOSING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 62 iv X5 Fig.5

v Ill 40 Fly. 6

. 4?" I8 74 7 /a ,42 k 76 E mes) W. Wright @i Alphonse Morris Thiery \uI INVENTORS 44 1, BY 54 50 flMmm United States Patent 0 CARTON CLOSINGMACHINE Ernest W. Wright and Alphonse Morris Thiery, El Centro, Calif.

Application May 29, 1953, Serial No. 358,237

1 Claim. (Cl. 5357) This invention relates in general to improvements instapling machines, and more specifically to a machine for closing lidsof cartons to facilitate the stapling of the same.

At the present time lettuce and other perishable produce is being packedin cardboard cartons for shipment. Inasmuch. as lettuce may be easilybruised and the lids of cardboard cartons are relatively light, unlessthe lids are pushed vertically to a final closing position, the lettucewill be bruised, and the lids of the cartons containing the lettuce,damaged.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide animproved carton closing machine for use in the stapling operation, whichwill first move lids of the cartons inwardly toward each other and thenexert a final downward pressure thereon whereby the carton lids may bemoved to their finally closed positions by a direct downward movement ofboth the lids and the lettuce or other produce contained within theupper portion of the carton.

Another object of this invention is to provide an im Z- proved cartonclosing machine which may be conveniently manipulated by a singleoperator, said machine being semi-automatic in operation and beingselectively controlled by such operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved cartonclosing machine which is of an extremely simple construction and whichis formed of readily obtainable materials so as to be economicallyfeasible.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved cartonclosing machine which is relatively compact and which has simpleoperating parts which are utilized in the carton closing operation andare capable of producing the desired results.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the carton closing machine in itscarton receiving position, a carton being positioned and supportedthereby with its lids in open positions;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 1 and shows thecarton closing machine in intermediate stage of its operation;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the carton closing machinesimilar to Figure l and shows the machine in its carton closingposition;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the carton closing machine inits carton closing position and shows the relationship of the same to aconveyor chute, the conveyor chute being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a planeindicated by the section line 55 of Figure 3 and shows the generalconstruction of the carton closing machine; and

' 12 are elongated pivot pins 43.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 6--6 of Figure 2 and shows thegeneral relationship of various elements of the cartonclosing machine.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the cartonclosing machine which is the subject of this invention is referred to ingeneral by reference numeral 10. The carton closing machine it) includesa supporting frame which is referred to in general by reference number12.

The supporting frame 12 includes a plurality of standards 14 disposed inrectangular relation with the standards being disposed at the corners ofthe supporting frame i2. Extending between and connecting together thelower ends of the standards 14 at the sides of the supporting frame 12are lower transverse frame members 16. Connecting together the lowerends of the standards 14 at the front and the rear sides of thesupporting base 12 are base members 18, the base members 18 beingsecured to a fioor or the like 20 by suitable fasteners 22.

The supporting frame 12 also includes upper frame members 24, whichextend between and connect together upper ends of the standards 14 atthe sides thereof. The upper ends of the standards 14 are furtherconnected together by front end and rear upper frame members 26.

Over-lying the top of the supporting frame 12 and extending between thesides thereof are transversely extending support members 28. Thetransversely extending support members 28 are angular in cross sectionand have ends disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the supporting frame12 in the manner best illustrated in Figure 5. Extending between androtatively carried by the supporting members 2S are spaced carton.supporting rollers 30.

Also extending between the support members 28 is a support 32. Thesupport 32 has secured to the underside thereof a centrally locateddepending fluid cylinder 34. The fluid cylinder 34 includes a piston 36which has connected thereto a depending piston rod 38. Secured to thelower end of the piston rod 38 is a transversely extending shaft 40.

Extending between and supported by the standards 14 at each side of thesupporting base 12, is an intermediate frame member 42. Extendingbetween each intermediate frame member 22 and its associated upper frameicmber 24 is a pair of vertical frame members 46. The

vertical frame members 46 of each pair are in spaced parallel relationto form a vertical guideway 48 therebetween. The shaft 40 has the endsthereof disposed in the vertical guideways 43 at the sides of thesupporting frame 12 and is limited to vertical movement by the same.

Extending between the standards 14 intermediate ends at the front andthe rear of the supporting frame The pivot pins 43 ex tend through thestandards 14 at the sides of the supporting frame 12 and have mountedthereon for pivotal movement links 44. It will be noted that the end ofeach pivot pin is disposed in an elongated slot 47 in the associatedlink 44 so that the link may be both pivoted and moved in a verticaldirection. In order that the link 44 may be retained in its uppermostposition there is connected to the ear 4) carried by the lower portionof the link 44 a tension spring 5%. The upper end of each tension spring54 is secured to the underside of its associated support member 28 so asto exert an upward force on its associated link 44.

Carried by each end of the shaft 4i) is a pair of links 52 and 54. Thelinks 52 and 54 have their lower ends pivotally connected to associatedlinks 4-4 as at 56 and 58, respectively.

It will be noted that the link 54 is disposed outermost 3 with respectto the associated link 52 and that the link 52 has an outwardlyprojecting flange 69 at the upper edge thereof. When the shaft 49 ismoved downwardly in response to movement of the piston rod 38, the links52 and 54 are moved downwardly with the result that their connections 56and 53, respectively, swing outwardly to pivot the links 44. After theshaft 40 has moved downwardly into alignment with the pivot points 56and 58, the flange 60 engages the upper edge of the link 54 to preventfurther pivoting of the links 52 and 54 with respect to each other.

At this time further downward movement of the shaft 40 results invertical movement of the links 44 which are now in vertical positions,with the result that the links 44 move downwardly with respect to theirpivot pins 43.

Carried by each link 44 is an upstanding arm 62. Each of the arms 62 atthe front and the rear of the carton closing machine 10, is connected bya transversely extending guide member 64, which has curved cartonguiding ends 66. Carried by a connecting member 68 which connectstogether the upper ends of each pair of arms 62 and which carries thecarton guide member 64, is an inwardly extending carton engaging plate70. Disposed at the inner corners of the carton engaging plate 7.6 areoutwardly and inwardly directed arcuate carton engaging guide fingers72.

In order that the carton closing machine may be selectively operatedfrom a remote point, there is provided a foot operated valve 74 which isconnected to the fluid cylinder 34 by a fluid line 76. The foot operatedvalve 74 is provided with a foot engageable pedal 78 which may beactuated to cause actuation of the fluid cylinder 34.

In the operation of the carton closing machine 10 a cardboard carton 86containing a produce such as lettuce 82 is delivered to the cartonclosing machine 10 by a suitable conveyor (not shown) disposed either atthe front or the rear of the carton closing machine Ill and removed fromthe foot operated valve 74. As is best illustrated in Figure 1, when thecarton 80 is delivered to the carton closing machine 14), top forminglids 84 thereof are disposed in upright positions. By utilizing thevalve 74 the piston 36 of the fluid cylinder 34 may be moved downwardlyto result in downward movement of the shaft 40. Downward movement of theshaft results in outward movement of the lower ends of the links 52 and54 and the inward movement of theupper ends of the arms 62. As the arms62 have the upper ends moved inwardly, the lid engaging plates 70 engagethe lids 84 to additionally move the lids inwardly and partiallydownwardly to a partially closed position as best illustrated in Figure2. At

this time the lid engaging plates 70 are disposed in substantiallyhorizontal positions, a slight distance above the normal top of thecarton 80. Also, in the plates 70 as disposed in horizontal positionsthe stop forming flange has engaged the link 54 to prevent furtherpivoting of the links 52 and 54. Further actuation of the fluid cylinderto result in further down movement of the shaft 40 results in downwardmovement of the arms 62.

Downward movement of the plates results in the downward movement of thecarton lids 84 together with the downward movement of the heads oflettuce 82. It will be understood that the general downward movement ofthe carton lids 84 and the lettuce 82 results in the firm packing of thecarton without damaging either the heads of lettuce 82 or the cartonlids 84.

After the carton lids 84 have been secured in place by a conventionalstapling operation the pedal 78 which has been depressed may then bereleased to permit the piston 36 to return to its normal position. Afterthe arms 62 have moved out of engagement with the carton 80, the samemay be moved off of the rollers 30 onto a convenient conveyor 86 at oneside thereof for movement to a storage area.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will bereadily understood and further explanation is believed to beunnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction shown and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A carton closing machine comprising a generally rec.- tangularupstanding frame, a carton support carried by said frame at the upperend thereof, said frame having opposite sides, a pair of transverselyspaced fixed pivot pins carried by each side, an arm pivotally andslidably mounted on each pivot pin, each arm having an elongated slotreceiving one of said pivot pins, said arms being arranged inlongitudinal pairs and connected together by a longitudinally extendingcarton lid engaging plate, a centrally disposed, longitudinallyextending shaft guid ingly retained by said frame for vertical movement,a pair of actuating links disposed adjacent each of said sides,

each of said actuating links being pivotally connected to said shaft andto one of said arms below its associated pivot pin, a plurality oftension springs connected to upper portions of said sides above saidpivot pins, there being one spring for each arm, each spring beingdisposed inwardly of an associated pivot pin and connected to itsrespective arm intermediate said pivot pin and said actuating link ofsaid respective arm, said shaft normally being disposed in an upperposition with links of each pair of links broken and said arms extendingupwardly and outwardly of said frame, said carton lid engaging plate outof alignment with said carton support, power means carried by said frameconnected to said shaft and being operable to move said shaft downwardlyto pivot said actuating links into horizontal alignment thereby pivotingsaid arms to vertical positions with said carton engaging plates,overlying said carton support, stop means carried by one link of each ofsaid pairs of links engageable with the other link of each of said pairsof links to limit pivoting of said links to horizontal positions, saidpower means being further operable to move said shaft, said links, saidarms and said carton lid engaging plates downwardly as a unit on saidpivot pins against the resistance of said springs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS689,474 Fales Dec. 24, 1901 901,676 Bowman Oct. 20, 1908 1,452,866Boller et al. Apr. 24, 1923 1,974,165 Stage Sept. 18, 1934 2,584,529Allen Feb. 5, 1952

